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I know that there has been a slew of stories about White dwarf, the price hikes, and so on so forth. But today, WD 390 came through the door of my house, and I came to the realisation.

I'm going to have to cancel.

It sounds so easy, but WD and I have always had a special relationship. Since I was five years old, when my Dad bought both me and my brother 1 WD (featuring an article about the War of the Beard betwixt Elves and Dwarves), I have feverishly read each and every article, looked at every picture, put more birthday and christmas money than I can fathom into the hobby, and genuinely fallen in love with the background.

I'm 16 now, and a couple of months back, a letter came from GW informing me that I only had a couple of months left on my subscription. Today signalled the last month, as the 'Summer of Flyers' issue finally arrived. The Storm Talons, the Dakkajets and the Night Scythes all took precedence, when you could see them between the adverts and and shiny-new-toy-ness of it all.
I looked back at the previous issue, and saw basically the same, but with different models (the Newcron 2nd wave). Then back at WD 388, when the Empire was released. Again, the same.

I came to the realisation that White dwarf was not the reliable old friend that I had come to know anymore. I went back to WD 290, 100 issues previously, 100 months, 8.33 years ago, back when I was just about celebrating my 8th Birthday. A space marine chapter creator, a fun battle report featuring the FW Fighta-Bommer, Ork Trukks made from toy trucks and the Chimera armoured cars converted using an article dating back to the 1st / 2nd edition (if I am correct). I think I actually shed a tear when I compared them together. My love for the hobby has known no bounds. I remember tracking down both Gorkamorka books just to play with some Trukk boyz I bought the day before. I remember playing path to Glory, the Chaos warband supplement spread over 4 WDs (my tenth, eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth issues, God I remember them so well). Cherishing the hour I got in Games Workshops for my birthday (the only time I could buy things for the whole year, until I was about 13). My adoration has been payed back with chibi-talons and planes that look like a five year old attacked a spitfire with papier-mache.

It is with a heavy heart that my oldest companion through my hardships (parent's divorce, general loneliness, rejection and betrayal by friends, typical school-nerd hardship) must now be removed from my waiting list. I can only hope that Wargames Illustrated (which has been a companion of mine for a couple of years now through my rampant spring of becoming sociable) can fill the void so capriciously left by the GW Advertising team. But what about you?

Has this been the turning point, where you can only now say 'no more' because of the boring, bland, shine-selling methods of the current WD? I know it has been for me.

No, the turning point for me to stop spending my readies on WD was back in around 2005 (would that my friends had also seen the light back then and bought me dvds for my birthday rather than a subscription).

It's had nothing resembling actual content for a number of years - but the rampant "this stuff is new, BUY IT!!!" marketing in the last few years means I don't even read the club copy any more.

Never had a subscription, but I stopped buying it (with a few exceptions for rules expansions) around 2000.

Still. I sympathize with you in that it can be difficult to let go of something that for so long has been a regular part of your life and is so linked to good times and fond memories. It seems that everyone goes through something similar as they grow up.

All the best for the next chapter.

WD is normally fairly low on content but I think this month's issue marks a low point even by WD standards - it is remarkably short on actual content this month. No battle report, Jervis' usual column of inane prattle, a couple of how to paint guides, a 2 page spread on making an Empire themed scenery piece (from two pre-made Citadel kits of course) and a bunch of pictures and 'buy-me now!' features about the new fliers. This month's issue has been the worst I have read for ages now. Hopefully it is the nadir and the only way is up for WD...

filbert wrote:Jervis' usual column of inane prattle, a couple of how to paint guides, a 2 page spread on making an Empire themed scenery piece (from two pre-made Citadel kits of course)

I noticed that Standard Bearer was even more inane than usual. 'Be who you want to be, like X, Y and Z, don't forget to buy some warhams, love thy neighbour'. Tosh.

And the Empire chapterhouse looked naff too. Apparently the only thing they have in a chapterhouse is a mausoleum and a watchtower? Do they die that much? i thought the Reiksguard were supposed to be the 'creme de la creme' of the orders, so to speak....

Oddly, this was the first Dwarf that I've bought in over a year, because it is the first in ages to actually have rules for new units. The necron stuff is in the codex, but the ork and Marine flyers are totally new and I'd rather pay 9 bucks to have the rules for them than get blindsided by them in the hands of some goober playing a Khan list.

I got a reality check the other day. I bought a new Horus Heresy novel and the new WD. The WD was $9 and the Dan Abnett's book was $8.99!

I only buy WD for the rule only releases. SoB and this months flyers for example. Otherwise WD sucks compared to what we used to get in the 90's.

My god. MORE 'how to' paint guides in the style of the new paint range and their hideous book?

Really?

Wait, what ? No battle report ? This is madness !

I bought the January issue, or was it February ? Vampire Counts release.
"Hey, why not give it a try after all these years, I want a couple magazines to read during the flight."
"... Uh, there must be a mistake. This is a catalog, not a White Dwarf."

You guys are right. I'm not renewing my sub next year...
At the age of about 7, I had a 16+ reading age. Now I'm 16, and WD takes no more than ten minutes to read. Big pictures and Ads don't do it for me. I'm debating going to the dark side and starting Warpath...

4oursword wrote:You guys are right. I'm not renewing my sub next year...
At the age of about 7, I had a 16+ reading age. Now I'm 16, and WD takes no more than ten minutes to read. Big pictures and Ads don't do it for me. I'm debating going to the dark side and starting Warpath...

Do it I'd say, the rules are quite good, and even if the minis aren't to your style, then at least the armies are compatible with W40k, and any that aren't can be proxied or just covered by creating your own army list (a lot easier than it sounds, I made 2 in one sitting in anticipation for a gaming weekend with friends a couple of months back)

Haven't had a subscription in a very long time. Haven't seen an issue since the SoB rules where I've wanted to buy one, either.

I'm surprised that this is an issue that people would complain about. Granted, I haven't seen it myself yet in person but I would think the inclusion of new units for the game would increase the wheat to chaff ratio compared with previous months. The lack of a batltle report isn't too shocking seeing as how the new edition is coming out but it would have been a nice send off to include a farewell report to 5th that included lots of aircraft.

The new painting article format irritates me. It's horribly perscribed i.e. do it this way - and there are no guides on doing neat tricks like OSL or crystaline swords.

Anyway, yes I have drawn a line in the sand with WD now.

I stopped buying them regularly when GW switched to the "release a White Dwarf and then a week later release all the new models" sales plan. If I want the new models, I just wait a week and skip the WD sales pitch.

They also stopped doing proper battle reports and painting guides some time ago, which is annoying. The small ones they've had since December are laughable... you can't even tell what's going on, and for a while the painting guides were just pictures of 'Eavy Metal models and a brief, two sentence description of the colours they used. I would've even take those from the store for free.

I've never been hugely into WD, picked up a couple issues now and then, but nothing substantial-that said, I've been given a few old ones and compared them to new ones-old ones had Dirty Steve, fun battle reports with stories behind them and new ones are just picturing the flavor of the month and making them seem awesome. They also say "buy this now!" I may get this month's just for the stormtalon rules, but that's about it.

This particular tired complaint is perhaps the most frustrating of all. Every issue lately has had new rules, painting guides, golden demon galleries, armies on parade features, and/or new scenarios.

You're mad because the are adverts... in a magazine?!?!?!?!

White dwarf is better than it has EVER been... At least since issue 104, which was MY first issue. There certainly have been dark periods in WD quality, but this is not one of them. If you find yourself hating white dwarf these days, you might want to consider the idea you just WANT to hate it.

Battleworthy Arts wrote:This particular tired complaint is perhaps the most frustrating of all. Every issue lately has had new rules, painting guides, golden demon galleries, armies on parade features, and/or new scenarios.

You're mad because the are adverts... in a magazine?!?!?!?!

White dwarf is better than it has EVER been... At least since issue 104, which was MY first issue. There certainly have been dark periods in WD quality, but this is not one of them. If you find yourself hating white dwarf these days, you might want to consider the idea you just WANT to hate it.

It isn't the point of the adverts. Its the propensity, and the B.S. factor of them.

and compaired to the 100's-250's? Your not really giving this counter argument with a straight face.

WD is thier magazine, but it began as a ... Gaming mag, not just a monthly advert for "Buy more stuff!!! Its cool!!!"

I'm not really seeing them as wanting to hate it. Read harder into the post- this is an ongoing- continued complaint from, yet another dejected fan.

Grot 6 wrote:

Battleworthy Arts wrote:This particular tired complaint is perhaps the most frustrating of all. Every issue lately has had new rules, painting guides, golden demon galleries, armies on parade features, and/or new scenarios.

You're mad because the are adverts... in a magazine?!?!?!?!

White dwarf is better than it has EVER been... At least since issue 104, which was MY first issue. There certainly have been dark periods in WD quality, but this is not one of them. If you find yourself hating white dwarf these days, you might want to consider the idea you just WANT to hate it.

It isn't the point of the adverts. Its the propensity, and the B.S. factor of them.

and compaired to the 100's-250's? Your not really giving this counter argument with a straight face.

WD is thier magazine, but it began as a ... Gaming mag, not just a monthly advert for "Buy more stuff!!! Its cool!!!"

I'm not really seeing them as wanting to hate it. Read harder into the post- this is an ongoing- continued complaint from, yet another dejected fan.

Dejected by what? What worthwhile content is missing?

WD has always had ads... Upset they are done with better design and better paint jobs?

Dejected fan.... He's 16. He's read WD for maybe 3 years... And it's DEFINATELY better than 3 years ago.

Battleworthy Arts wrote:

Grot 6 wrote:

Battleworthy Arts wrote:This particular tired complaint is perhaps the most frustrating of all. Every issue lately has had new rules, painting guides, golden demon galleries, armies on parade features, and/or new scenarios.

You're mad because the are adverts... in a magazine?!?!?!?!

White dwarf is better than it has EVER been... At least since issue 104, which was MY first issue. There certainly have been dark periods in WD quality, but this is not one of them. If you find yourself hating white dwarf these days, you might want to consider the idea you just WANT to hate it.

It isn't the point of the adverts. Its the propensity, and the B.S. factor of them.

and compaired to the 100's-250's? Your not really giving this counter argument with a straight face.

WD is thier magazine, but it began as a ... Gaming mag, not just a monthly advert for "Buy more stuff!!! Its cool!!!"

I'm not really seeing them as wanting to hate it. Read harder into the post- this is an ongoing- continued complaint from, yet another dejected fan.

Dejected by what? What worthwhile content is missing?

WD has always had ads... Upset they are done with better design and better paint jobs?

Dejected fan.... He's 16. He's read WD for maybe 3 years... And it's DEFINATELY better than 3 years ago.

Nope.

'I went back to WD 290, 100 issues previously, 100 months, 8.33 years ago, back when I was just about celebrating my 8th Birthday.'

I agree though, the gaming articles nearly always feature the new army, and the new army nearly always wins.

Lord of Timbraxia wrote:I know that there has been a slew of stories about White dwarf, the price hikes, and so on so forth. But today, WD 390 came through the door of my house, and I came to the realisation.

I'm going to have to cancel.

It sounds so easy, but WD and I have always had a special relationship. Since I was five years old, when my Dad bought both me and my brother 1 WD (featuring an article about the War of the Beard betwixt Elves and Dwarves), I have feverishly read each and every article, looked at every picture, put more birthday and christmas money than I can fathom into the hobby, and genuinely fallen in love with the background.

I'm 16 now, and a couple of months back, a letter came from GW informing me that I only had a couple of months left on my subscription. Today signalled the last month, as the 'Summer of Flyers' issue finally arrived. The Storm Talons, the Dakkajets and the Night Scythes all took precedence, when you could see them between the adverts and and shiny-new-toy-ness of it all.
I looked back at the previous issue, and saw basically the same, but with different models (the Newcron 2nd wave). Then back at WD 388, when the Empire was released. Again, the same.

I came to the realisation that White dwarf was not the reliable old friend that I had come to know anymore. I went back to WD 290, 100 issues previously, 100 months, 8.33 years ago, back when I was just about celebrating my 8th Birthday. A space marine chapter creator, a fun battle report featuring the FW Fighta-Bommer, Ork Trukks made from toy trucks and the Chimera armoured cars converted using an article dating back to the 1st / 2nd edition (if I am correct). I think I actually shed a tear when I compared them together. My love for the hobby has known no bounds. I remember tracking down both Gorkamorka books just to play with some Trukk boyz I bought the day before. I remember playing path to Glory, the Chaos warband supplement spread over 4 WDs (my tenth, eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth issues, God I remember them so well). Cherishing the hour I got in Games Workshops for my birthday (the only time I could buy things for the whole year, until I was about 13). My adoration has been payed back with chibi-talons and planes that look like a five year old attacked a spitfire with papier-mache.

It is with a heavy heart that my oldest companion through my hardships (parent's divorce, general loneliness, rejection and betrayal by friends, typical school-nerd hardship) must now be removed from my waiting list. I can only hope that Wargames Illustrated (which has been a companion of mine for a couple of years now through my rampant spring of becoming sociable) can fill the void so capriciously left by the GW Advertising team. But what about you?

Has this been the turning point, where you can only now say 'no more' because of the boring, bland, shine-selling methods of the current WD? I know it has been for me.

This was the post I read.

Maybe you read something different?

Battleworthy Arts wrote:

Grot 6 wrote:

Battleworthy Arts wrote:This particular tired complaint is perhaps the most frustrating of all. Every issue lately has had new rules, painting guides, golden demon galleries, armies on parade features, and/or new scenarios.

You're mad because the are adverts... in a magazine?!?!?!?!

White dwarf is better than it has EVER been... At least since issue 104, which was MY first issue. There certainly have been dark periods in WD quality, but this is not one of them. If you find yourself hating white dwarf these days, you might want to consider the idea you just WANT to hate it.

It isn't the point of the adverts. Its the propensity, and the B.S. factor of them.

and compaired to the 100's-250's? Your not really giving this counter argument with a straight face.

WD is thier magazine, but it began as a ... Gaming mag, not just a monthly advert for "Buy more stuff!!! Its cool!!!"

I'm not really seeing them as wanting to hate it. Read harder into the post- this is an ongoing- continued complaint from, yet another dejected fan.

Dejected by what? What worthwhile content is missing?

WD has always had ads... Upset they are done with better design and better paint jobs?

Dejected fan.... He's 16. He's read WD for maybe 3 years... And it's DEFINATELY better than 3 years ago.

Yes this is correct, but its the amount of Ads that people are frustrated with, for example in 2008 7% of the magazine was ads now its more like 35% of ads (this is not actual math just the general summary of what it was like then and what its like now).

I understand this issue has been better than others (such as finecast issue for example, that WAS just a plain massive ad) and it dose have good rules, but what is frustrating the most is now they have decided to finish the Bat Reps and replace with MORE ads.

Also upset about better design? I have the issue when fire warrior was released and they did a special mission on a level about it, and showed you how to make the bored and give you the rules of kais. This is what the majority of gamers who play warhammer want, not "Oh look im shiny please buy me, pretty please? *Insert cute puppy face*" ads that have seem to take over what used to be the gaming part of the magazine.

I stopped getting White Dwarf Subscriptions when they stopped coming with Gorkamorka.

That year I think I got 5 years worth of subscriptions

I stopped getting White Dwarf at the start of this year, mostly for similar reasons as the original poster mentions. It makes me sad as when I first started reading them (the previous tyranid and wood elf releases) they felt like reasonable value, learned some new stuff from them and generally found they helped my hobby.

Now I only pick up issues if they have something specific I want in them, such as the Necron apocalypse articles, although even they were underwhelming.

Battleworthy Arts wrote:White dwarf is better than it has EVER been...

Yeah, I'm going to call BS on that.

I've not bought a White Dwarf in years. I occasionally have a read of copies bought by friends, but they're essentially a glossy catalogue these days, and the assertion made above that they're not just as good as they've ever been, but are perhaps better, is ludicrous. Patently so.

Even now, years and years later, I can still fondly remember the battle report from around the launch of the 3rd Edition Marine codex. They used to be what, a full page for each player to intro and discuss the army, a page or two of pretty pictures of the armies, and then seven or eight more pages with the cool diagrams detailing their actions, then another couple of pages for the players to wrap up at the end. That battle report got me to buy a whole army of Crimson Fists.

I read one recently and it read like it had been written by a guy from Marketing. And quite apart from the battle reports, there were new rules practically every issue; Index Astartes, Chapter Approved, rules to field Zealots, Deathwatch Kill Teams. The army features were more about cool conversions or interesting painting tricks(which were often then featured in a "how to" article later in the issue) than showcasing whatever new models were being released.

And it wasn't even just WD, you had Warhammer Monthly, BFG Magazine, Town Crier, the Citadel Journal; those had about two pages of adverts in the whole thing.

Ah well, there's no use moaning about it, short of Kirby retiring or the entire GW board being involved in a fiery plane crash, their policy of information suppression combined with saturation advertising in WD isn't going to change.

Battleworthy, White Dwarf better than it has ever been?

Do me a favour, whilst you are certainly entitled to that opinion i doubt it is one that will be agreed with by many.

White dwarf is simply atrocious. I thnk it has been worse but not by much. I've been reading it on and off for 15 years.

You're honestly telling me you prefer a magazine dominated by 'flavour of the month' psuedo adverts and basic (and i hasten to add identical) painting guides every month..??

Base, Layer, shade, layer highlight, glaze.. repeat ad infinatum...

frankly i find it insulting. I used to find some (not all) of the painting guides useful, sometimes they would address advanced techniques and i'd actually learn or at least be inspired by something.

Something else i also find reprehensible is the fact that their white scars vs necrons vs orks extravaganza (which takes up the majority of the magazine yet took me 8 minutes to read) BLATANTLY uses armies made from the AOBR box set therefore agressively promoting a product that will be shortly superceded and made obsolete. (theres an advert for it the page after) not that they will tell you that - not a sniff of 6th ed or indeed their latest price gouge- i find that to be a pretty poor show to be honest.

Nonetheless i am willing to try to see this from your perspective so pray tell me, why IS this the best WD has been for 15 years? (longer by your reckoning)

because im just not seeing it .

I remember when Dirty would answer letters, tell people how to work with their cool ideas *one letter in particular was a person asking whether to use the old lizardmen book or Hordes of Chaos for his Tzeentch corrupted Lizardmen.* Since they axed that and other fun little articles I haven't picked up an issue for many years as it just became a glorified 'hey this is coming out, BUY IT' collection of paper and broken dreams.

Back when you got a basic troop box which was 20 bucks with your 30 dollar subscription. Mydad got a 10 year subscription. White dwarf day was the best day of the month. I would enjoy it for up to a week.

I can still go back and enjoy the old ones for just the fluff. I have not even bothered with white dwarf in a long time since i can get all the stuff i used to get for free online from other people. I wont even get this one because i know someone is going to get it and i will just photocopy those pages.

I pray white dwarf recovers. I could even justify it if the subscription offer was good but usually it is crap i don't want

Wow guys, i wasn't expecting such a fabulous response....

I remember the WD Yodhrin mentions, featuring the Zealots. I might have to dig that one out now...
The old WD were the best things. They had rules for everything back then, and I still longingly await the return of a chapter Approved article. However, I know this will never happen, so fair thee well, WD.

And, Battleworthy: I think you might have been sent the wrong magazine every month, or you were just looking at the pretty pictures (which I can't fault you for, they used to be very pretty pictures)